Have you ever used a gun (sport, protection, hunting, etc)

[LynneSin]

I've come to realize that in my many many years of existance on this planet, I have never once fired a pistol, gun, revolver, rifle or basically any kind of gun. Probably the closest I've gotten to using a gun would be your standard issue watergun.

I have no problems with guns. My family heritage include hunters and everyone who has a gun is responsible with what they own. But for me, just never had a desire to own one.

So have you ever used a gun or some form of firearm (we'll just use gun in the poll but it would include any firearm)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. What do you think?

[Bodineian]

90. West By God Virginia

hell here in West by golly, when yer born the doc slaps a gun in yer hands before he slaps yer ass.

No big deal.

however if yer gonna kill yerself i would suggest the 12 Gauge Express

[Aristus]

2. I've used the M-16, the M-60 machine gun, M-203 rifle and grenade

launcher, the Beretta 9mm, the 1911A1 Colt .45 auto, and the Reinmetall 120mm smoothbore tank gun.

They all belonged to the U.S. Army.

I don't own any guns of my own. B-)

[Twillig]

16. Hey Tanker, Didn't you fire the M240 machine gun?!

I've never fired the M-60..

I have the .22 rifle my dad bought me way back when. No wait, he has it, it's still mine..Or I'll get it eventually.
He dispatches varmints occasionally.

Nothing like firing Main gun. Shooting a lil' gun has lost any possible attraction for me.

[Aristus]

75. Yes, of course I fired the M240. I just lost track of the weapons I'd fired, that's all.

Ah, the loader's weapon and the co-ax. How could I forget?

[AllegroRondo]

30. I've fired many of those as well

but not the tank gun. They dont let musicians near those.

[Wcross]

51. Come on now- You HAD to have fired the M2 at least once.

I was a member of the 2nd tank battalion (USMC) back in the early 80's. I loved shooting the m2, I wish I had the extra cash to buy one of my own now! Nothing like shooting a big .50 bmg to brighten up your day.

[Aristus]

76. Yep, fired the Ma Deuce, too.

Sheesh, I been out so long, I've forgotten everything I did back then. My brain is going. :dunce:

[Wcross]

78. I got out 20 years ago.

We still had the M-60 tank when I left.

[Squatch]

59. My military repertoire

M-16 (A2, A4)
M-2
M-4
M-9
MK-19
M-60
M-249
M-240B
M-500
M-119
M-198
M-109A6

[Parche]

65. guns

I used the M-16 M-203 and M-60 when I was in Air Force too!!!!

[reyd reid reed]

3. I've fired weapons before...

my father collects them, but he never took me to a range (that was one of those 'boy' things. I got to be a good little girl and stay home and learn to cook and sew and sort laundry. He did take me to the archery range several times -- I guess archery was more ladylike :shrug: ).

I fired (and learned to disassemble and clean and reassemble) M-16s and some kind of handgun...I can't remember what kind, specifically, when I was in ROTC.

[Road Scholar]

4. All my life. This past weekend teaching my daughter

how to defend herself with her 9mm Glock. It's not a gender thing anymore.

[LynneSin]

6. I'm glad to hear that

If people allow their children to use any form of firearm, they need to be taught how to properly use it.

My nephews all know how to hunt and have all taken the local hunter safety course

[Road Scholar]

9. Thank you. It was on the firing range with a certified instructor..

and me. Safety and respect for others and firearms is big out there.

[miss_american_pie]

5. Yes

My father and husband both own guns.

[flvegan]

7. Target shooting, yes.

Pistol, 12 gauge and rifle.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. no, i find guns scary.

[Wcross]

56. You really need to get to a range lionesspriyanka.

Try it one time with a certified instructor, you will no longer find them scary. You may even find punching holes in paper to be fun. Criminals with guns are scary. (I might add in the hands of some NYPD cops to that statement)
If you ever get out to Vegas they have a gunshop/range that rents all kinds of firearms (including machine guns). I plan on a visit next time I'm in town.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

98. If I ever get out to Vegas, I'm going to that range.

I really want to shoot a machine gun.

[lizziegrace]

10. Yes

I owned a pea-shooter (.25 automatic) and I've fired a 9mm and a .38 I did a lot of driving alone in the rural south and kept it in the car.

[LeftyMom]

11. My Dad taught me how to use and care for a gun when I was a kid.

Other than a bb gun I've never owned one, but I had plenty of practice with anything that wasn't too large or overpowered for me as a kid.

[Squeech]

12. .22 rifle

Target shooting as a kid. I was never much good at it.

[johnnie]

13. Yes

I have owned quite a few.

[-..__...]

14. What do you think?

:smoke:



(that's just the longarms)

:evilgrin:

[itsmesgd]

37. nice spread

what are the scoped guns on the floor?
nice collection of ar's and ak's. Is that an eotech scope on the far left? I was pondering adding one to my ar as well.

(watch as we freak out the non-gun-folk)

[-..__...]

68. A few home builds.

Two of the ARs and two of the AKs I put together myself from stripped receivers and mail order parts.

It was more expensive .vs buying factory built, but in the long run the learning experience was well worth it.

The two rifles are a Ruger 10/22 that I pretty much built myself... all aftermarket parts except for the receiver and trigger housing. The other rifle is a Remington 700P in .308 with 16x42 Super Sniper scope.

That is an EoTech on the M4gery (I forget the model number, but it uses the "N" style batteries).

I really like it. Takes a bit of practice and getting used to when used properly.

About 9 months after I bought it I had a problem (wouldn't shut down after pressing the on/off switch...
I had to remove the batteries to turn it off. I sent it back to EoTech and a few weeks later it came back good as new. Haven't had a problem since.

[michreject]

55. What. No FAL?

Everybody should have an FAL.

[-..__...]

69. On my wish list...

a very long wish list. :evilgrin:

[Wcross]

58. Where is your M1 and M1a?

While your collection seems adequate, it is sorely lacking in the "real gun" category.

[-..__...]

70. Placed my order with the ODCMP about 3 weeks ago.

Service Grade M-1 Garand and two cases of Lake City ammo. :-)

(960 rounds/78 lbs per case. I'll have to give my poor UPS guy a little something extra this Christmas)

[Rhythm]

94. sweet collection, D_S...

makes me miss the ones that i co-owned with my ex...

but that's the only thing i miss. *L*

[LostinVA]

15. I used to do alot of target shooting when I was younger (.22)

I have no problem with sporting rifles and shotguns.

[VaTF1]

17. For personal and professional reasons

I have hunted, and own my late brother's and my late father's guns, along with my own for the purposes of hunting.

I was also employed as a FFer, and in order to climb thru the ranks of the dept., you have to work all aspects of Fire. That means working 3 years in the Office of the Fire Marshal, where we are "lawmen", and I had to learn how to handle a Glock. Thankfully I only had to pull it, but never fired it.

[NewWaveChick1981]

18. No. And I never plan to, either.

My husband bought a vintage M-1 Garand and cleaned and repaired it. He took it out for target practice a few times, but I never went with him (on purpose). (The targets were paper, btw.) That M-1 had seen action in WWII, and I'm sure it had a colorful history---none of which I want to know about. :cry: He sold the M-1 at a gun show recently for a lot more than he paid for it, and I'm glad it's out of the house. He was a totally responsible gun owner, but I didn't want anything to do with it.

I have no problems with responsible gun ownership, but gun nuts and criminals have ruined it for everyone else.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

31. That's the same gun we have.

Ours saw WWII action, too.

I shot it a couple times, but it's too big a gun for me.

[Wcross]

60. .30-06 and a metal butt plate will wear anyone out.

I usually get some good bruises shooting the M1 garand. That is THE rifle to own though.

[Rabrrrrrr]

19. Yes, ever since childhood, including target, hunting, and trap shooting.

I've been surrounded by guns my whole life, and own many.

I like guns. They're fun to shoot, beautiful to look at (at least, the ones that are made nicely), and good to collect.

And, of course, they have often helped put food on the table.

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. You know, we need MrBenchley in this thread!

Too bad he's tombstoned!!!! :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[LynneSin]

23. He was tombstoned? How the hell did that happen

:shrug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

25. Oh, ages ago!

It was a most joyous day, yes it was!

Most joyous indeed.

Got canned for being an abusive asswipe.

[LynneSin]

26. Yeah but he always had my back

I met him several times and he was the biggest teddybear.

I'm really sad to see him gone =(.

[Rabrrrrrr]

28. I'm glad to hear he was a teddy bear in real life!

He was the only person I ever kept on ignore.

I do miss Bob Boudelang, though. He was frickin' hilarious! Benchley did a great job writing those. I was sad when Benchley stopped writing Boudelang. GOod stuff!

[NightNurse]

35. He was one terrific guy.

Mr. B. was the best. And STILL is.:pals:

[GalleryGod]

39. Got to agree with my Bride ! Mr. & Mrs. B. were way cool folks!

Sittin' around the Bar at Doobie's in Philly...quaffing Killian's and scarfing down all kinds of food. Great day, great conversations.

[-..__...]

71. I'm sure even Josef Stalin and Idi Amin had their jovial side/moments also.

They're still major league assholes and pieces of shit.

[LynneSin]

86. Oh come-on, that's absolute bullshit

Would you appreciate if I compared you to Adolph Hitler or Pol Pot. If you don't like the person that's one thing, but I would never compare any DUer including those no longer with us, to dictators.

If anyone is an asshole you for your assinine post. I'd rather spend time with the Benchley's, they were a great couple! And I speak as someone who has met them twice

[-..__...]

91. A little extreme, perhaps...

but, the point is I'm sure even Stalin and Idi Amin had their happy faces to put on from time to time.

As far as making unfair and inappropriate comparisons go, Benchley was the undisputed master of that.

I lost track ages ago of how often he routinely and unapologetically lumped in or compared law abiding gun owners to nazis, skinheads, white supremacist militia types, Bush Bots, etc.

Maybe he was a pleasant sort of fellow in person, but once he got behind a keyboard he was a raging, apoplectic prick.

FWIW, he could be amusing in a "crazy uncle locked in the attic" type of way.

The "cry me a river", "what a pantload", "snicker", "Suuuuuure" statements were a comedy goldmine.

[BikeWriter]

93. Hey, he was hell on the GOP, and I liked him for it.

[BikeWriter]

92. I didn't know he's married.

[LSK]

45. how did I miss such a great event???

:rofl:

[BikeWriter]

48. Yeah, well, many of us are abusive asswipes. Sorry to hear that.

[benEzra]

89. He certainly had choice words for those of us who disagreed w/him on guns...

but I think he was actually tombstoned over the Lieberman thing. Apparently tempers were running high and some flame wars got started that turned rather personal.

I'm sure he was is nicer in person; I always figured the crochety-old-man persona was just an act.

[michreject]

79. I do miss him at times

He was a pant load.

[PVnRT]

82. Damn, I missed it!

He was such a fun scratching post to keep my claws sharp on...too bad...

[u4ic]

21. Other than a bit of target practice

with my brother and my father (and even then, I was only about 6 or 7), I've never held a gun, never wanted to. Ditto about owning one.

[Kali]

22. Yes. My Grandfather taught me how to shoot and care for guns.

I shot a few rabbits as a kid, did a little "target" shooting later in life and made some noise a few times. Now I mostly only use it for emergency euthanasia of livestock. I own two guns and husband owns a few as well.

[seemunkee]

24. 3 times

.22 rifle at Boy Scout camp as a kid
.22 rifle at Boy Scout camp as a leader

Out at a friends cabin once we went to a quarry to shoot. I was drinking but they let me try an AR15 and a .22 pistol. I fired two shots with each and then they quickly took them away. They waited until the guns were locked away before joining me.

[Maddy McCall]

27. Yes, and I am an owner.

[Oeditpus Rex]

29. A couple of 9-millimeters

A Glock semi-automatic pistol and a Ruger semi-automatic rifle.

If you're bored, you can read about it here.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

54. My dad's been thinking about getting a rifle and a handgun. What did

you think of the Glocks? It was a possibilty on our list, but it's trigger saftey "feature" just seems like it's asking for trouble. Comments?+

[Wcross]

62. I don't like glocks for that very reason.

I am partial to the Colt 1911 style pistol. It has a grip safety along with a traditional safety on the side. If I didn't own a couple of 1911's I would go for a good smith&wesson revolver. The revolver is a very dependable and safe weapon.

[pokerfan]

81. Well, revolvers don't have safeties either

I don't like glocks for that very reason

The revolver is a very dependable and safe weapon


Rule #2 applies to both: ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

I really, really, really hate it when they break that rule in films and tv shows.

[jmowreader]

74. If you want a really safe gun, get the H&K P7

The P7 has a "squeeze cocking" mechanism. There's a lever on the front of the grip. You've gotta squeeze it in with 15 lbs pressure to get the gun to cock--it only takes a couple of pounds to hold it in. Little kids don't have 15 lbs grip strength, so they can't kill each other with it.

Thanks to our shitty exchange rate with Germany, this gun costs a fortune, but it's worth it. Available in 7 or 13 round mag, and (so far as I know--there may be more calibers now) in 9mm.

[benEzra]

85. My wife likes her Glock 26...

you think of the Glocks? It was a possibilty on our list, but it's trigger saftey "feature" just seems like it's asking for trouble. Comments?+

My wife likes her Glock 26 (subcompact 9mm model). She was going to get a 19, but decided to get a 26 instead because the smaller gun is easier to carry.

The think about a Glock is that it is perfectly safe unless the trigger is pulled; you can throw it off a building and it won't go off, but if you pull the trigger when you shouldn't, it'll shoot.

My wife's approach is to keep the gun in condition 3 (magazine loaded, chamber empty) whenever the gun isn't holstered (her holster completely encloses the trigger guard), and she follows Rule 3 religiously.


(That's a Glock 19 magazine, FWIW; the 26 mags fit flush with the grip.)

Personally, I prefer a pistol with a manual safety AND internal safeties (S&W 3913LS, in my case), so that it can safely be carried in a holster safety-off, but you can put the safety on for routine handling and such.

[Tyler Durden]

32. .357, .30 carbine, .45 ACP, 7.62 NATO, 9mm Parabellum, 8mm Mauser, .22LR.

9mm and .45 ACP Star Firestars (.45 is mine, 9mm the wife's)
.30 cal M1 Carbine (Mine: PNC knockoff)
8mm Mauser (1 1939 BSW, 1 1931 Spanish)
.357 (Ruger Security Six, Mine)
.22LR (Remington)
7.62 (M-14: belonged to the Marines)

Also 1860 Colt .44 black powder: goes BOOOOOM.

I make big noisy holes in paper, but don't fuck with my wife or daughters, please.

[GalleryGod]

33. Let's See? : M-16,M-79 Grenade Launcher, M60 Machine gun, .45 pistol

So that would be a Yes.:applause: :rofl:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

34. A former boyfriend took me target shooting once

I wasn't interested enough to go again or to continue on my own.

[GOPisEvil]

36. I was a Boy Scout. I earned the Rifle Shooting merit badge.

:)

[Madrone]

38. I didn't need no steekin' badge.

When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns, pardner. ;) (according to a fridge magnet that's been around at least as long as I have - courtesty of my dad)

Anyway - plinking is fun!

[GOPisEvil]

41. Hey, I was near-deadly with the Anschutz .22 rifle.

I think I'm violating some sort of law down here. I sold my only gun years ago. OK, so it was just a .22 pistol, but still.

I haven't picked a gun in years. I'd probably not be able to hit the broad side of a barn today.

[Madrone]

42. Well...

If you ever land in my part of WA we can put that to the test.

Ha. I said "IF" ... :rofl:

[GOPisEvil]

47. LOL! Yeah, as IF!

:rofl:

[pokerfan]

50. Anschutz?

Drool



I *heart* Winter Biathlon




My father taught me the basics of safe handling of firearms:
1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

Before I could get my hunting license, I had to take a formal class and pass the test. You cannot stress safety enough.

Anyway, I never viewed guns as morally good or evil; I just saw them as tools.

I own a Springfield 30-06 that belonged to my dad, a Winchester pump .22 that I grew up with, a Browning Auto 12 gauge, a Winchester Defender 12 gauge, a S&W 9mm, a Ruger Mark II target pistol, and an HK USPC .40 S&W.

I shoot whenever I can. It's more of a self discipline thing with me. Hitting a target just takes discipline and practice.

[China_cat]

40. Family guns. (all rifles and shotguns)

We hunted. All of us. In fact, my mother was better than my stepdad for bringing home the game.

[bikebloke]

43. As an early teenager

I had a .22 rifle, though my father claimed it for himself since I wasn't all that enthusiastic about shooting cans off a fence. The one time we went hunting, I saw the only squirrel on the mountain and missed.

In Israel, I held an unloaded Uzi belonging to a kibbutznik.

[LSK]

44. does a b-b gun count???

Otherwise - NO

[Robb]

73. Same question here

Interestingly, the level of safety instilled in me by dear old dad during BB gun training was likely enough to keep me out of harm's way around, say, a Howitzer. :D

[montanto]

46. Sho 'nuff

Had a Taurus 9mm (grip too bulky, round too light); one of those WWII Garandes (put a little over a dozen rounds through it and could only get two or three on the paper at 100 yards, while my friend with an 03 Springfield was kickin' my ass. The barrel was shot out). I had a Ruger Mini 14 (mine was accurate and I liked it a lot). I was into those military type things for a while and had an AR-15 and Springfield Armory M1A (my favorite). The only thing I've still got is my Smith and Wesson 686 Combat Magnum .357. Haven't fired it in years. Oh, yeah, I hunted for a while with a Ruger M-77 30-06.

[derby378]

49. Owned a TEC-DC9, but never fired it

Just as well, I suppose - I learned later on that those guns were fairly unreliable. Only kept it for a month, though.

The only guns I've fired as an adult were guns that I didn't own.

[michreject]

52. I shoot competition

But I also have a CCW.

I currently own 52. I probably have owned close to 200 different guns in my life.

[two gun sid]

53. Used ones I've owned and ones the USGov issued.

[Squatch]

57. I use guns often, damn near every day.

- I compete in practical pistol competitions (IPSC)
- I hunt large, small, and fowl game (just spent a week in ME hunting deer/bear)
- I am in the Army and carry a 9mm Beretta and Colt M-4 carbine
- I carry a concealed Sig Sauer P-229 (.40 S&W) whenever my attire allows it

All in all, I have been shooting guns since I was about 8 years old when I fired my Dad's 12 ga Browning. Ever since, I've fired thousands upon thousands of rounds of shot and bullets, each of them fired safely and not resulting in any bodily harm (of any human...can't say the same about ducks and pheasants).

[michreject]

80. I shoot USPSA as well.

Beyween April and October, I shoot every Sunday. I'm a RO.

[democracyindanger]

61. Black powder musket

And the day before that, an awful .22 to get my Marksmanship merit badge. Was about 20 years ago.

[Squatch]

63. Once, I shot a man in Reno

[Mojambo]

64. Once. When I was a kid.

I came away from it pretty much never wanting to handle a gun again.

And I haven't.

It's just not for me.

[bridgit]

66. oh yes...

[Orsino]

67. Typical Army stuff.

M-16 and M-60 with live rounds. Fired only dummies from the 203 and AT-4. Tossed a couple of live grenades.

I was an armorer, and worked on M-16s and 9mm pistols, mostly.

[Crabby Appleton]

72. Yes, Army & civilian

M-14, M-16, M-79 bloop gun, M-60, 1911 .45

Have fired and owned many civilian rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Used to go target shooting a lot, not very often anymore. Currently have a .41 mag S&W, Rugar 9mm, Bushmaster 9mm carbine, 870 12 ga.

[Redstone]

77. Yes, and I wish I hadn't. Even though I had to.

Redstone

[PVnRT]

83. Yes, shooting clay pigeons

Which is extremely fun.

[Taverner]

84. oh yah - firecrackers for adults!

Let me be the first to admit publically, shooting guns is fun

[CanuckAmok]

87. Heck, yeah....

Not just in the past, but sometimes at work. I'm one of a handful of Canadian civilians with a permit to handle/transport/own automatic weapons. Good thing I'm on our side!

[benEzra]

88. My wife and I both...and my sister, and parents, and everybody else I know...

with very few exceptions.

My wife's:



Couple of mine:

[shanti]

95. never have

used or owned a gun and never have had a reason to...but i'm aware that this could change.

[Rhythm]

96. Strictly a civi shooter...

i've owned a Ruger 10/22, an AK-47, an SKS (7.62x54), and a Colt Python .357 mag.

~*~*~
~my "gun story"~
The only time i've ever fired outside the range was using the AK. i lived in Charlotte NC about 18 yrs ago, and had to break up a situation involving a drunk neighbor running around my front yard, who was attempting to behead his girlfriend with a garden hoe. I fired it into the dirt near the drunk-ass's feet, after yelling at him repeatedly to drop the hoe and go the hell home.

After i fired that warning shot, the girlfriend (and her 5 yr old son) ran inside my house to call the cops, and the drunk ran back to his place, swearing he was going to go get his shotgun and come back and get me.

Several squad cars arrived a couple of minutes later, and i was still standing watch at the door, with the sling wrapped around my arm, and finger on the outside of the trigger guard. I cleared it and put it down on the back of the couch as they got out, and talked to one of them while his partner took the complaint from the girlfriend, and watched a couple of the others arrest the drunk for attempted murder.

The officers who came to my house were nice guys, and other than asking for ID, they didn't bother me at all about discharging my weapon. They just took my statement, told me to 'be good', and that was that.

[Evoman]

97. Always wanted to, but never had the chance.

I've never known anyone, save my gf parents and one friend, who has owned guns (and my gf has never even seen her dads guns). My friend has a .22 and a BB gun, as well as some hunting rifles (kept at his farm, which I've never been too). I've shot his BB gun a couple of times (and I'm a pretty good shot..as good as he was, anyways), but never a "real" gun. I live in Canada, so maybe guns just aren't as common here. I wouldn't even know where to go to shoot a gun.

I really want to learn how to use and clean a gun (you never know where those skills will come in handy), but I've never really had the opportunity. Oh well....maybe someday.

[soleft]

99. How's your foot?